Virtuoso Life - May/June 2008 - (Page 94) EXPERTS’ ADVICE BEYOND BEIJING LOOkING TO DO A BIT Of PRE- AND POST-GAmES EXPLORING? VIRTuOSO ASIA SPECIALISTS PICk ThE SIGhTS NOT TO mISS IN AND AROuND ChINA. What to see: The Terra Cotta Army in Xi’an, a collection of 7,000-plus clay warriors, horses, and figures standing guard at the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, who first unified China in 221 bc. Way to go: The Terra Cotta Army features prominently in Brendan Worldwide Vacations’ eight-day China trip, with two nights in Xi’an and private guides for a day of exploring the warrior museum and city fortifications. The journey kicks off with four days in Beijing and wraps up in Shanghai. Departures: Any day through 2008; from $1,321. What to see: The Yangtze River for historic temples and dramatic gorges leading up to Three Gorges Dam, which is the world’s largest at 630 feet tall and 1.4 miles long. Way to go: Travelers can spend six days on the mighty river during Viking River Cruises’ 12-day trip from Beijing to Shanghai. The cruise covers more than 150 river miles, with guided excursions of Shibaozhai Temple and Three Gorges Dam. Every stateroom on the 306-passenger Viking Century Sky features a private balcony and expansive river-view windows. Departures: Multiple dates through November 16, 2008; from $2,734. What to see: Endangered giant pandas in China’s Sichuan province. Way to go: China Travel Service takes wildlife lovers to Sichuan for a day at the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve Centre. The four-day trip includes guided tours of the breeding and research center, along with an opera performance in Chengdu and city highlights such as the Wangjiang Tower Park. Departures: Any day through 2008; from $510, including five-star accommodations, English-speaking guides, and most meals. OuTSide China What to see: Cambodia’s legendary ruins, Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, built at the height of the Khmer empire in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Way to go: Tuk-tuks (rickshaws) transport parties amid Angkor Wat’s temples on Cox & Kings’ stay in Siem Reap. The four-day itinerary makes time for sunset elephant rides, hot-air ballooning, and a shadow puppet performance between explorations of Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, and Beng Melea. Departures: Any day through 2008; from $985, including guides, some meals, and accommodations at Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor. What to see: The majestic Himalayas and Kathmandu, Nepal. Way to go: Thriving markets, 22,000-foot peaks, stupas, and Hindu temples await on absolute Travel’s seven-day trip to Nepal. Participants spend four days in Kathmandu and its surrounding villages, and head to Pokhara for a boat ride on Phewa Lake and sunrise on the Annapurna Range. Departures: Any day through 2008; from $3,190, including accommodations, most meals, and private guides. Beijing’s Behai Park. 94 V I RT U O S O L I F E
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